Dispensing valve for squeezable tubes



.April 20,. 1 E. DAVIDSON ETAL DISPENSING VALVE FOR SQUEEZABLE TUBES Filed July 2, 1962 5 M 5 4 3. w E F p fi r4 /U//\ 4 like material within the tube.

United States Patent F 3,179,300 DISPENSING VALVE FOR SQUEEZABLE TUBES Emil Davidson, Scarsdale, and Gilbert L. Abrams, Valley Cottages, N.Y., assignors to Guild Molders, Inc., Elmsford, N.Y.

Filed July 2, 1962, Ser. No. 207,120 2 Claims. (Cl. 222-213) This invention relates to tubes for paste-like material, and in particular to an improved valve assemblyin combination with a collapsible tube for dispensing pastes,

creams, and the like.

This application is a continuation in part of my application Serial No. 89,752, filed February 16, 1961, now abandoned, for Valve for Paste Tube of Thermoplastic Material.

Squeezable tubes for dispensing paste-like materials, such as'tooth paste, shaving cream, lotions, cosmetics, therapeutic remedies, and the like are presently being manufactured out of various flexible thermoplastic materials, such as polyethylene and the like. Normally, when such tube has the contents squeezed out through the open mouth of the neck thereof, a vacuum is created within the tube. Air then enters the neck of the tube, at which point the tube reforms to its original shape. When the tube is used again, the air which has entered must be expelled, either initially or incident to dispensing the pastelike material, and this results in an uneven, unsatisfactory flow. Furthermore, because the tube has returned to its original shape, the amount of the material remaining in that tubeisnot readily determinable. In addition, the

air that has entered the tube may tend to affect the paste- .It is an object of the present invention to provide a valve arrangement for a squeezable dispensing tube which is arranged to open in response to squeezing of the tube 'to allow the contents of the tube to be dispensed, but which prevents air from entering the tube even when the tube is laid on its side or overturned. After dispensing material, the tube will remain in the collapsed position to which it has been squeezed; and the subsequent squeezing of the tube will dispense only the contents thereof, without being admixed with air. This is advantageous inasmuch as the flow of the paste-like material is smooth and continuous upon compressing of the tube; and the remaining content of the tube is easily discernible because the tube will remain in a collapsed state, thereby providing tell-tale evidence of the material remaining in the tube. In addition, the contents of the tube can be dispensed,

without the need for a milking operation to get rid of the entrapped air in the tube. Further, the contents can be selectively dispensed in virtually any attitude or posia thermoplastic squeezable resilient container, such as a 'tube' formed of polyethylene or other suitable synthetic plastic material. The valve assembly includes a hollow body having an open end forming a mouth and a valve seat at the other end. The hollow body is interlockingly secured in the neck of the tube by means of a tongue and groove arrangement and the valve assembly further includes a spherical valvemember which rests on the valve seat to prevent air from entering the tube while the material being squeezed from the tube pushes the spherical valve member off of the valve seat and against a stop in said hollow body which limits the position of the spherical valve member while permitting passage of the paste material through the hollow body and out of the mouth.

tube has been 3,119,300 Patented Apr. 20, 1965 plurality of legs appended thereto may be employed, with the legs normally urging the valve member against the valve seat.

A further object of the present invention resides in the provision of a novel valve assembly for use in combination with a squeezableresilient container which is simple in construction and which may be secured or fused to the container or integrally formed therewith.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device for dispensing material such as paste-like materials, jellies, lotions, or the like which will reduce the possibility 'of contamination with air of the contents of the device.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a valve assembly for use in combination with a thermoplastic squeezable container of varying sizes and shapes, and which is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, and efficient in use.

Still another object of the invention is to provide means for urging a valve member against its valve seat for maintaining a tight seal against entry of air into a squeezable tube.

These, together with the various ancillary objects and features of the invention which will become apparent as valve assembly for use 'in combination with a squeezable tube, preferred embodiments of which has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, by way of example only, wherein: V

FIG. 1-is a partial exploded sectional detail view of a thermoplastic squeezable tube, constructed in accordance with the concepts of the present invention, illustrating in solid lines an embodiment of the valve assembly in a position prior tosqueezing the tube, and showing in phantom lines the position of a spherical valve member and the tube after the tube has been squeezed;

FIG. 2 is a sectional detail view of the thermoplastic squee'zable tube after the portion of the contents of the v dispensed and after the tube has been released; r

. FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional detail view taken aloug the plane of line 3-3 in FIG. 2 illustrating in particular the construction of the embodiment of the valve assembly;

FIG- 4 is a sectional detail view of a modified embodiment employing a spring for urging a spherical valve member onto its valve seatj FIG. 5 is a sectional detail view of another embodiment of the invention employing a cap having a plunger for In one form of the invention, a spring may be emengaging a spherical valve member;

FIG. 6 is a sectional View of the cap employed in the embodiment of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a partial sectional detail view of a further embodiment of valve member and valve seat; and

FIG. 8 is an elevational view of an embodiment of valve me mber adapted for use with the valve seat of FIG. 7.

With continuing reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, reference numeral 10 generallydesignates the thermoplastic squeezable tube incorporating the present invention. The tube 10 includes a containerportion 12 formed of any suitable material, such as polyethylene and the like, and may be transparenbtranslucent or opaque and colored if desired. The tube 10 includes a neck 14 which is preferablyexternally threaded as at 16 so that a cap 18 which is internally threaded, as at 20, may be detachably sethermoplastic material and the like.

cured thereon. The upper edge of the neck is provided with a peripheral groove 22.

The material from which the tube is constructed is of a resilient nature so that the tube when squeezed will normally tend to return to its original shape. However, if some of the contents of the tube are squeezed out of the tube, and air is prevented from returning into the tube, a vacuum is then present in the tube which will retain the tube in its deformed state. This is desirable because it allows the user to readily ascertain upon visual inspection the amount of contents of the tube re maining therein.

In order to prevent air from returning into the 'containcr portion 12 of the tube 10, there'is provided a valve assembly 26 which includes a body 28 which may be molded or otherwise shaped out of any suitable material, it being found that polyethylene and other thermoplastic materials are effective and desirable for such purpose. If polyethylene is employed, the body 28 may be conveniently fused to the neck 14 which is also constructed ofpolyethylene. It is further within the concept of this invention to integrally form the body 28 with the neck 14.

The body 28 includes a portion 30 of relatively wide diameter and of cylindrical configuration, the walls of which are relatively thin.

The upper edge of the cylindrical portion 30 is outwardly turned or swaged at 32 to fit in the inner peripheral groove 22. The neck 14 has a groove 34 therein. for reception of a tongue 36 integral with the portion 30. The

tongue 36 and groove 34 serve to provide an interlock:

ing connection between the body 28 and the neck 14. Of course, a suitable adhesive material can be disposed between the body 28 and the neck 24 for bonding the body- 28 in place, and alternatively a solvent for conarrow portion 38 is provided with a valve seat 44 and a spherical valve member 46 is adapted to be supported on the valve seat 44 for preventing flowof air into the container portion 12 whilepermitting flow of paste-like After the desired amount of material has been dispensed, the container 12 is released. The atmospheric pressure of the outside air, as indicated by the arrows so, will immediately force the spherical valve member 46 against the valve seat'44 preventing flow of air into the container portion 12. The deformation 12a will remain due to the fact that the va'cuum'in the container portion 12 has not been eliminated. Of course, the deformation 12a provides a visual indication .of the amount of material which has been expelled from the container 12 and thus the amount of material remaining therein.

Referring now to the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 4, there is provided a spring arrangement for holding the ball valve on its valve seat. More particularly, the sequeezable tube 110 includes a container portion 112 formed of any suitable material, such as polyethylene and the like, and may be transparent,translucent or opaque while being colored as desired. The tube 110 includes a neck 114 which is preferably externally threaded, as at 116, so that a cap (not shown) which is internally threaded may be detachably secured thereon. The upper edge of the neck is provided with a peripheral groove 122.

The material from which the tube 111) is constructed is of a resilient nature so that the tube 114) when squeezed will normally tend to return to its original shape. 'However, if some of the contents of the tube 110 are squeezed out of the tube, and air is prevented from returning into the tube, a vacuum is then present in the tube 110 which will retain the tube v110 in its deformed state. This is desirable because it allows the user to readily ascertain upon visual inspection the amount of contents of the tube 110 remaining therein.

In order to prevent, air from returning into the container portion 112 of the tube, there is provided a'valve assembly 126 which includes a body 128 which may be molded or otherwise shaped out of any suitable material,

material into the rectangular bore 48 of the narrow portion 38. The narrow portion 38 is further provided with a pair of integral ribs 56 and 52 which partially close the narrow portion 38 and prevent the spherical valve member 46 from passing therebeyond. However, because of the squarecross sectional configuration of the bore 48, when the tube 12 is squeezed paste-like material passes about and around the spherical valve member 46 and passes the ribs 50 and 52 so as to flow out of the mouth 54 of the container. The spherical valve member 46 is preferably formed of a relatively heavy material such as a corrosion resistant metal. However, because of the suction efiect which will cause the spherical valve member 46 to be forced against the valve seat 44, the spherical valve member 46 can also be formed of a It is noted that the narrow portion 38 extends into into the container portion of the tube 12, thereby assuring that the paste material can be easily fed into the portion past the spherical valve member 46.

In operation, after the cap 18 has been removed, any part of the container 12 can be squeezed and the spherical valve me'mber36 will be forced upwardly to the position as shown in phantom lines at 46a. The container 12 is depressed and deformed-as shown at 12a. Material is V forced through the space between the spherical valve it being found that polyethylene and other thermoplastic materials are effective and desirable for such' purpose. Ifpolyethylene is employed, the body 128 may be conveniently fused to the neck .114 also constructed of polyethylene. The body 128 can be integrally formed with the neck 114. i

The body 128 includes a portion 136 of relatively wide diameter and of cylindrical configuration, the walls of which are relatively thin. Y

Theupper edge of the cylindrical portion 130 is outwardly turned or swag'ed at 132 to fit in the inner peripheral groove 122. The upper edge is provided also with an inner peripheral flange 133. The neck 114 has a groove 134 therein for reception of tongue 136 integral with the portion 130. Thetongue 136 and groove 134 serve to provide an interlocking connection between the body 128 and the neck 114. Of course, a suitable adhesive material can be disposed between the body 128 and the neck 114 for bonding the body 128 in place, and alternatively a solvent for cohesive fusing of the material of the neck 114 with material of the body 128 may be employed. In addition, it is possible to heat seal the neck 114 and the body 128 together.

The body 128 further includes a relatively narrow portion 138 having comparatively thick walls 140 and having a rectangular bore 14$. The narrow portion 138 is interconnected with the wide portion 130 by means of a tapering truncated conical portion 142. The lower end of the narrow portion 138 is provided witha valve seat 144. A

spherical valve member 146 is adapted to be supported urging the spherical valve member 146 against'its seat 144. When tube 119 is squeezed, pastelike material r passes about the spherical valve member 146 after raising the spherical valve member 146 off of its seat 144 and passes out of the mouth of the container. The action of spring 150 in addition to the suction effect will cause the spherical valve member 146 to be forced against the valve seat 144.

It is noted that the narrow portion 138 extends into the container portion of the tube 112, thereby assuring that the paste material can be easily fed into the portion past the spherical valve member 146;

In operation,-after thecap has been removed, any part of the container 112 can be squeezed and the spherical valve member 146 will beforced' upwardly against the action of spring 150. The container 112 is depressed and deformed as shown at 112a. Material is forced through the space between the spherical valve member 146 and the end wall surfaces of the portion 138 and through the mouth of the container.

After the desired amount of material has been dispensed, the container 112 is released. The atmospheric pressure of the outside air as well as spring 150 will immediately force the spherical valve member 146 against the valve seat 144, preventing flow of air into the container portion 112. The deformation 112a will remain due to the fact that the vacuum in the container portion 112 has not been eliminated. Of course, the deformation 112a provides a visual indication of the amount of material which has been expelled from the container 112 and thus the amount of material remaining therein.

In lieu of the cap 10, a cap 218 may be employed as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The cap 218 has cylindrical side walls 220 provided with internal threads 222 adapted to mesh with the threads 16 of the neck 14 of the container 12. Integral with the side walls 220 is a top wall 224 from which there integrally depends a plunger 226 adapted to extend down into engagement with the ball valve 46.

In operation, when cap 218 is screwed in place, the plunger 226 engages the ball valve 46, urging the ball valve against valve seat 44, overcoming collections of past material, etc. that may have coated the valve seat 44.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, a body 328 is secured to or integrally formed with the neck of a squeezable tube similar to the tubes 10 and 110. The body 328 includes a relatively wide portion 330, the cylindrical walls of which are relatively thin.

The body 328 further includes a relatively narrow portion 338 having comparatively thick walls 340, defining a bore 348. The narrow portion 338 is interconnected with the wide portion 330 by means of a tapering truncated conical portion 342. a

The lower end of the narrow portion 338 is provided with a valve seat 344 and the narrow portion 338 is further provided with ribs 350 and 352. These ribs may extend completely around the inner periphery of the narrow portion 338.

Engageable with the valve seat 344 is a valve member 346. The valve member 346 is in the form of a hollow cone and is preferably moulded out of a suitable synthetic plastic material such as polyethylene. Integrally formed with the valve member are a plurality of resilient legs 360, 362, 364, etc. and integral with the ends of the legs 360, 362, 364, etc. remote from the valve member 346 is a ring 366 which engages the ribs 350 and 352.

As can be seen in FIG. 7, the legs 360, 362, 364, etc. are continuously under compression and push the valve member 346 against the valve seat 344 to a closed position. The legs 360, 362, 364 etc. flex inwardly.

In operation, any part of the tube can be squeezed and the conical valve member 346 will be forced upwardlyby pressure of the paste material in the tube, further compressing the legs 360, 362,364, etc., depressing and deforming the tube.

After the desired amount of material has been dispensed, the tube is released. The compression on the legs 360, 362, 364 as well as the atmospheric pressure will immediately force the valve member 346 against the valve seat 344, preventing flow of air into the tube. The deformation will remain due to the fact that the vacuum in the tube has not been eliminated. Of course, the deformation provides a visual indication of the amount of material which has been expelled from the tube and thus the amount of material remaining therein.

In FIG. 8 there can be seen a modified arrangement of hollow conical valve member 446 and ring 466 which employs slanting legs 458, 460, 462 and 464 which extend at a slight angle to the valve memberv 446' and ring 466. Hence, when legs 458, 460, 462 and 464 are compressed, they will flex inwardly and in a generally spiral manner.

. The valve member 446 and ring 466 together with the slanting legs 458, 460, 462 and 464 may be employed with the body 338 of FIG. 7 aspreviously described. 1

A latitude of modification, change and' substitution is intended in the foregoing disclosure and in some instances some features of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scope of the invention herein.

What we claim is:

1. The combination with a squeezable container adapted to contain a material to be dispensed and having a neck through which said material is adapted to be dispensed upon deforming of said container, said container being fabricated of a resilient material which is deformed upon the application of a squeezing pressure and which tends to return to its initial shape upon release of said squeezing pressure thereby creating a partial vacuum in said container which tends to draw air through the other end thereof, a valve ball disposed within said through bore and normally engaging said valve seat for closing said through bore to preclude dispensation of said material therethrough, and a spring disposed within said through bore seated at one end against the said annular flange and its other end against the said valve ball to limit the movement of said valve ball from the valve seat while permitting the dispensation of material through the opening of said annular flange, said valve ball moving out of engagement with said valve seat in response to the application of said squeezing pressure to said container and the partial vacuum created within said container incident to its deformation being effective to cause said valve ball to return into engagement with said valve seat upon release of said squeezing pressure, the return of said valve ball into engagement with said valve seat precluding the drawing of air into said container and maintaining said container in a deformed state.

2. The combination with a squeezable container adapted to contain a material to be dispensed and having a neck through which said material is adapted to be dispensed upon deforming of said container, said container being fabricated of a resilient material which is deformed upon the application of a squeezing pressure and which tends to return to its initial shape upon release of said squeezing pressure thereby creating a partial vacuum in said container which tends to draw air through said neck and into said container, of a oneway valve in said neck arranged to permit dispensation of said material a through said neck in response to the application of said squeezing pressure and to preclude the drawing of air into said container upon releasing of said squeezing pressure, saidv one-Way valve including a hollow valve body disposed in the neck of said container having a rectangular through bore for the dispensation of said material and being formed with a valve seat at one end of said through bore and an annular flange atrthe other end thereof, a valve ball disposed Within said through bore and normally engaging said valve seat for closing said through bore to preclude dispensation of said material therethrough arid a generally conical spring disposed within said through bore seated at the base thereof against the said annular flange and at the apexthereof against the said valve ball to limit the movement ofsaid valve ball from the valve seat while permitting the dispensation of material through the opening of the annular flange, said valve ball moving outof engagement with said valve seat in response to the application of said squeezing pressure to said container and the partial 'vacuum created within said container incident to its deformationbeing effective to cause said valve ball to return into engagement with said valve seat upon release of said squeezing pressure, the return of said valve ball into engagement with said valve seat precluding the drawing of air into said container and maintaining said container in a deformed state.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,869,808

8/32 Hancock 222-496 2,170,007 8/32 Brewer 222497 X 2,737,329 3/56 Bolsey 222-212 X r 2,814,419 11/57 Lipman 222207 2,884,164 4/59 Kleid 222207 2,984,393 5/61 Magnenat 222-518 X 3,081,Q06 3/63 Land 222-212 FOREIGN PATENTS 478,065 1/38 Great Britain.

LOUIS J. DEMBO, Primary Examiner; 

1. THE COMBINATION WITH A SQUEEZABLE CONTAINER ADAPTED TO CONTAIN A MATERIAL TO BE DISPENSED AND HAVING A NECK THROUGH WHICH SAID MATERIAL IS ADAPTED TO BE DISPENSED UPON DEFORMING OF SAID CONTAINER, SAID CONTAINER BEING FABRICATED OF A RESILIENT MATERIAL WHICH IS DEFORMED UPON THE APPLICATION OF A SQUEEZING PRESSURE AND WHICH TENDS TO RETURN OT ITS INITIAL SHAPE UPON RELEASE OF SAID SQUEEZING PRESSURE THEREBY CREATING A PARTIAL VACUUM IN SAID CONTAINER WHICH TENDS TO DRAW AIR THROUGH AND NECK AND INTO SAID CONTAINER, OF A ONE-WAY VALVE IN SAID NECK ARRANGED TO PERMIT DISPENSATION OF SAID MATERIAL THROUGH SAID NECK IN RESPONSE TO THE APPLICATION OF SAID SQUEEZING PRESSURE AND TO PRECLUDE THE DRAWING OF AIR INTO SAID CONTAINER UPON RELEASING OF SAID SQUEEZING PRESSURE, SAID ONE-WAY VALVE INCLUDING A HOLLOW VALVE BODY DISPOSED IN THE NECK OF SAID CONTAINER AND HAVING A RECTANGULAR THROUGH BORE FOR THE DISPENSATION OF SAID MATERIAL AND BEING FORMED WITH A VALVE SEAT AT ONE END OF SAID THROUGH BORE AND AN ANNULAR FLANGE AT THE OTHER END THREOF, A VALVE BALL DISPOSED WITHIN SAID THROUGH BORE AND NORMALLY ENGAGING SAID VALVE SEAT FOR CLOSING SAID THROUGH BORE TO PRECLUDE DISPENSATION OF SAID MATERIAL THERETHROUGH, AND A SPRING DISPOSED WITHIN SAID THROUGH BORE SEATED AT ONE END AGANIST THE SAID ANNULAR FLANGE AND ITS OTHER END AGANIST THE SAID VALVE BALL TO LIMIT THE MOVEMENT OF SAID VALVE BALL FROM THE VALVE SEAT WHILE PERMITTING THE DISPENSATION OF MATERIAL THROUGH THE OPENING OF SAID ANNULAR FLANGE, SAID VALVE BALL MOVING OUT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID VALVE SEAT IN RESPONSE TO THE APPLICATION OF SAID SQUEEZING PRESSURE TO SAID CONTAINER AND THE PARTIAL VACUUM CREATED WITHIN SAID CONTAINER INCIDENT TO ITS DEFORMATION BEING EFFECTIVE TO CAUSE SAID VALVE BALL TO RETURN INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID VALVE SEAT UPON RELEASE OF SAID SQUEEZING PRESSURE, THE RETURN OF SAID VALVE BALL INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID VALVE SEAT PRECLUDING THE DRAWING OF AIR INTO SAID CONTAINER AND MAINTAINING SAID CONTAINER IN A DEFORMED STATE. 